SystemTap is an instrumentation system for systems running the Linuxkernel, version 2.6. Developers can write scripts to collect data on theoperation of the system.

A buffer overflow flaw was found in SystemTap's tapset __get_argv()function. If a privileged user ran a SystemTap script that called thisfunction, a local, unprivileged user could, while that script is stillrunning, trigger this flaw and cause memory corruption by running a commandwith a large argument list, which may lead to a system crash or,potentially, arbitrary code execution with root privileges. (CVE-2010-0411)

Note: SystemTap scripts that call __get_argv(), being a privilegedfunction, can only be executed by the root user or users in the stapdevgroup. As well, if such a script was compiled and installed by root, usersin the stapusr group would also be able to execute it.

SystemTap users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain abackported patch to correct this issue.

4. Solution:

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-releasederrata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to usethe Red Hat Network to apply this update are available athttp://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259